Related Items

Local Real Estate

Cars For Sale

JORDAN Mercer offered to stay away from witnesses and not talk to the media if Surf Life Saving Australia lifted her suspension to allow her to compete.

In a letter filed to the Supreme Court as part of Ms Mercer's civil application, Ms Mercer's lawyer Mark Lacy outlined a basis for SLSA agreeing to lift the 19-year-old ironwoman's suspension pending a final judicial committee hearing.

Mr Lacy wrote in the letter Ms Mercer was willing not have any contact with witnesses to the alleged incident subject to her provisional suspension.

He also stated Ms Mercer was willing not to have any communication with media to discuss the alleged incident.

"We understand that some of the persons involved in the alleged incident may be present at upcoming competitions," Mr Lacy wrote.

"To that end, we would be happy to further particularise the first undertaking above so that such persons are specifically named."

Mr Lacy argued his client's reputation as a professional athlete was severely prejudiced by being suspended from competition.

But SLSA knocked back Ms Mercer's offer.

In a letter dated December 3, Lander and Rogers lawyers, representing SLSA, stated the proposal was rejected because SLSA believed provisional suspension was appropriate.

The letter also suggested it was not be in Ms Mercer's "best interests" to speak with other witnesses as she ran

the risk of looking like she was "colluding with other witnesses".

SLSA's legal team also stated Ms Mercer would also not be served speaking with the media as she ran the "enormous risk of damaging her own reputation and brand in the process".

The following day, the Supreme Court heard Ms Mercer's application for an interlocutory injunction on her suspension to allow her to compete in upcoming surf carnivals.

This weekend, an SLSA judiciary committee is investigating drug use and unlawful assault allegations that arose at the world surf life saving titles in Adelaide last month.